November

11/1. Battleship North Carolina Half-Marathon and Bay Six Battleship 5K. 11th annual Carolina Sports Medicine Battleship North Carolina Half-Marathon and Bay Six Battleship 5K. Information at 910.398.5539, www.battleshiphalfmarathon.active.com.

11/7. Island Fever Music Fest at La Belle Amie Vineyard. Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 5 PM. $8 admission for ages 18-80 (other ages have free admission). La Belle Amie Vineyard in North Myrtle Beach. Bring lawn chairs, but no pets or coolers allowed. Wine and food available for purchase. Information at www.labelleamie.com or 843.399.WINE (9463).

11/7. Cape Fear Kite Festival. Cape Fear Kite Festival. Free event with kites from many origins filling the sky with color, unbelievable sizes and styles! Wrightsville Beach, NC. Information at 910.520.1818, www.capefearkitefestival.com.

11/8. Nationalistic Fervor presented by Long Bay Symphony. A variety of music from the "Age of Revolution." Information through www.longbaysymphony.com or 843.448.8379.

11/12-15. The 28th Annual Dickens Christmas Show and Festival. Myrtle Beach Convention Center. A huge show of craftspeople, great place to find ideas for decorating, shop for holiday gifts, or just see the sights. Information at 843.448.9483 or www.dickenschristmasshow.com.

11/14. Urban Bush Women Dance Troup. One-of-a-kind dance troupe, known for integrating dance, music, and text with the history, culture, and spiritual traditions of African Americans and the African Diaspora. Performance at University of North Carolina in Wilmington. (601 S. College Rd.). Information through www.uncw.edu/presents.

11/21. 6th Annual Murrells Inlet Oyster Roast. Spud's Waterfront Dining parking lot. Oyster eaters belly up to the tables for an all-you-can-eat afternoon of steamed oysters. A menu of other food items and beer and soda are available. Oyster Roast tickets are $25.00. Call 843.357.2007 for tickets and more information.

11/26-28. South Carolina Bluegrass Festival. Kick back and relax with the time-honored tradition of Southern bluegrass at this renowned South Carolina festival, held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center. Free parking. Chairs provided. See http://www.aandabluegrass.com/Festivals/SouthCarolinaStateBluegra.html to order tickets.

11/26. Poplar Grove's Plantation Christmas. Decorated for the holidays, the Manor House at night is full of old fashioned charm and nostalgia. Bring a cozy blanket for cuddling on the hayride. More information at 910.686.9518, or come to Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 US Hwy 17 North, Wilmington, NC 28411 (www.poplargrove.com).

11/28. Christmas Market in Little River, SC. The 4th Annual Christmas Market celebrates the season, starting at 9 AM. Get into the Christmas spirit at the historic waterfront. Entertainment, unique and popular Pet Parade, annual Christmas Parade around the waterfront, and the annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta at dusk (see next item). Highway 17 north from Myrtle Beach with a right turn at Mineola to the waterfront.

11/28. Intracoastal Christmas Regatta Boat Parade. Boats assemble at Tilghman's Point at 4:30 PM and begin the parade at 5 PM (dusk). It proceeds down the waterway to Dock Holidays Marina. View the regatta from several locations along the waterway. More information at http://christmasregatta.com.

11/27 until 12/23. Winter Wonderland in Murrells Inlet. See a spectacular holiday light display from 4-11 PM every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until December 17th, then daily until the 23rd. Magical wonderland with Santa, a penguin igloo, Jack Frost, a gingerbread house, a warm and roaring fire, holiday carolers, and much more. Food and craft vendors, holiday trees for sale, and a 50-50 raffle. Tickets $6/children free. Location: 11054 Highway 707 in Murrells Inlet, SC.

December

12/1-19. Season of Celebration in Wilmington's Historic Waterfront. Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony, events, shopping, fun! All happening each weekend leading up to Christmas. Call 910.251.0727 or online at www.dbawilmington.com for more details.

12/1-22 (selected dates). Enchanted Airlie Gardens at Christmas. Beautiful holiday flowers, festive lights, live musical entertainment, and the largest display of model trains in the Southeast. Open December 4, 5, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19, 21, and 22 at 300 Airlie Road in Wilmington. Two show times per evening beginning at 5 PM and 7 PM. Advanced tickets required. Details at 910.798.7700 or www.airliegardens.org.

12/3 at 5:30 PM. Lighting of the World's Largest Living Christmas Tree. Holiday entertainment by The Cape Fear Academy Upper School Vocal Ensemble with the tree lighting and the arrival of Santa to follow at 6 PM. Lights on the Christmas tree remain from 5:30 PM to 10 PM through December 31, 2009. Location: Hilton Park at 407 Hilton Street in Wilmington, NC. Details at 910.341.7855 or online at www.wilmingtonnc.gov.

12/4. The Nutcracker. The Wilmington Ballet Company's beautiful, full-length production of the classic Nutcracker Ballet. Professional dancers join the company for this traditional Christmas favorite with the breath-taking Tchaikovsky score. Sunday at 3 PM. Tickets $25. Details at 800.523.2820 or 910.343.3664. Location: Minnie Evans Arts Center, 605 Halyburton Memorial Parkway, Wilmington, NC 28412.

12/4. Holiday Lighting of the U. S. S. North Carolina Battleship. This event is part of the holiday festivities in historic downtown Wilmington. The Battleship is dressed in lights strung from the bow up to the masts and down to the stern. Enjoy the spectacular display nightly from dusk to 11:00pm. Free viewing from downtown Wilmington. For information call 910.251.5797 or online at www.BattleshipNC.com. Location: #1 Battleship Road, Wilmington, NC 28401.

12/4. Christmas Towne. Myrtle Beach Convention Center Events Plaza (Corner of 21st Avenue North and Oak Street). Free photo with Santa and FREE live entertainment, tree lighting ceremony, plus free games and activities for the kids and refreshments for all! Sponsored by Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Myrtle Beach. For more information 843-626-7444.

12/ 5-6; 12-13 & 18-20, 3 PM to 10 PM. Visit the Nights of a Thousand Candles at Brookgreen Gardens where your holiday spirits soar. Brookgreen celebrates its tenth festival year. Thousands of candles and lights illuminate the garden paths and brighten the winter sky. Enjoy performances by the popular choral ensemble, Vocal Edition, and piano concerts by Rocky Fretz. Details at www.brookgreen.org or call 843.235.6000.

12/11-13, also 18th. Rivertown Christmas in Conway, SC. Come to historic downtown Conway, SC, just outside Myrtle Beach from 12:30 noon until 4 PM. For more details. 843.248.6260.

12/12-13. The Best on the Beach: Softball. Held at Coastal Carolina University, this ball camp for serious plays from grade 9 through junior college brings talented people together in a sport they all love. In addition to starting a recruiting process, this program is part of the Chanticleer baseball camp program held near Myrtle Beach, SC. For details, 843-349-2849.

12/25. Christmas. State and federal holiday.

12/31. New Year's Eve. State and federal holiday.